I was first with the Keesler AFB Drum Corps from August of 1952 until May of 1953 while attending Airborne Radar School.  Fortunately, I had the opportunity to join the corps again 1955 when I returned to KAFB for  ’71 school. It was a great fun and a chance for me to continue the drum corps experience I had before enlisting in the Air Force.  M/Sgt. J.O. Dant was the NCO in charge of the Corps and I believe that he may have been the first leader of the KAFB Drum Corps.

The Keesler Drum Corps participated in many local functions.  I can remember parades in Bay St. Louis, Psacagoula, and Biloxi in Mississippi and Morgan City and New Orleans in Louisiana to name a few.  We played for student shift change and retreat at times.  Also, members of the horn section were called to play Taps as funerals as the need arose.

Here is a "Class Picture" of the corps in 1955.

My other drum corps experience started in 1950 when I joined the McFarland Post Cadets junior corps in Burlington, NJ. This was my first corps and I started out playing a Tenor Drum.  It didn’t take me long to learn that it was a lot easier to carry a bugle on a long march so I switched to horn.

Later in 1951 I moved on to the Highlanders which was McFarland American Legion Post senior corps and I remained with that outfit until I joined the Air Force in June of 1952.

After my second tour of Keesler I was assigned to the 3^rd Troop carrier Sq. at Donaldson AFB (The Airlift Capital of the World) in Greenville, SC.  There I joined the Drum Corps at the local American Legion Post.  Unfortunately, due to the ravages of time, I cannot remember the name of the Post or the Corps.  I do remember we competed in a state Legion competition held in Charleston, SC.

This is a press photo of the Corps on parade. 
If my memory serves me correct, we are in Biloxi.

Upon leaving the Air Force in 1954 I became a member of the Jersey Devils.  This was a senior corps sponsored by American Legion Post 26 of Bordentown, NJ.  Alas, this was my last drum corps.  Due to marriage and the demands of my job I no longer had free time for all of my interest so the only musical interest I had after that time was S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A.

A brisk salute to all who made Drum Corps everywhere a special place!

Lastly, here is one of me in the uniforms we wore in 1952.